Formula 1 follows numerous Western companies and cuts all ties to Russia, now also stops the TV contract with Match TV
After an initially hesitant position, Formula 1 is now showing a clear edge on the Russia issue. First, the Sochi Grand Prix was cancelled for 2022 and then also for the following years (in Saint Petersburg), and then it was decided that Russian drivers would only be allowed to compete under a neutral flag
The Haas team ended its cooperation with Nikita Masepin, who in the meantime has also – quite independently of Formula 1 – been placed on the EU sanctions list because he is accused of directly or indirectly supporting the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Masepin is thus no longer allowed to enter the EU and all his assets in EU countries are frozen.
Now Formula 1 is once again taking action and also terminating the television contract with the Russian provider Match TV, which was only concluded in 2020 and would have run until the end of 2023. F1 TV is also no longer available in Russia with immediate effect. This means that Russian fans no longer have the opportunity to legally watch Formula 1 live on television.
Match TV also owns rights to various European football championships. The English Premier League also ended the cooperation these days. The Spanish La Liga had broadcast peace messages on their feed last week, but Match TV censored them and did not broadcast them.
The aim of the sanctions against Russia is to put pressure on the Putin government following the military invasion of Ukraine. Formula 1 is far from the only organisation that has cut all ties with Russia. Corporations like McDonald’s, Starbucks and Coca-Cola have also ended their Russian business.
Even the automotive industry has reacted in the meantime: Manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen have stopped sales and production in Russia for the time being, and sporting goods manufacturers such as Adidas, Nike and Puma also support the sanctions, as do tech companies Apple, Intel and Microsoft, to name just a few examples.
